Santa's workshop

Gift giving this year for us begins a new tradition.  I came across a saying last year that said:

Something you want, Something you need

Something to wear, Something to read

I had already bought my Christmas gifts at that point, but the saying really stuck with me.  I thought about it all this year and really love how simplistic it is and that it truly does encompass fun, surprise, learning, and necessity. By early November, I had my list written out with most of the "blanks" filled in, and felt pretty good about things...until my friend reminded me of Santa Claus.  My jaw hit the floor.  I had completely forgotten about the head jolly.  I wasn't against Santa, but up until now, we had been able to avoid formulating a "Santa" plan because the munchkins were too little. But our Madeline is now in her 2nd year of preschool and well-versed in chimney visitors. There was no escaping.  So, we decided to do one big gift from Santa for each of the girls. 

Here's Madeline's:

a dollhouse kit that Elf Jeff has diligently been working long night hours on. 

This is our first (but definitely not last) foray into dollhouse construction. This is one of the most basic kits out there, and I picked it because it came with furniture too. 

Doesn't it look happy? 

We decided that this was going to be an ongoing daddy/daughter project, and that they would pick out colors and furnishings together.   

Here it is painted; the yellow is just a $1 craft tube and the shingles were painted in our own house color. 

The finishing touch is the address 3 Madeline Lane (she's 3 this year) and flowers for the box. 

I'm not much for gingerbread details on real life houses, but I think this just make a dollhouse.

I love the windows with their little English detail at the top. 

Here's hoping she likes it!

Time to bake!

This year's new attempt:  Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls!

(some cleanup required)

Mom came over for a baking day with the girls, and I thought with the extra hands it was worth a try.  Madeline proved quite proficient at rolling out the dough.  And, I must say, this is a very forgiving dough.  She dug her fingers into it, we folded it in thirds and completely started over, and it still was as pliable as the beginning.  If you like super sweet cinnamon rolls, and would like to give these out as gifts  (they work out to about $2.75 a pan, the recipe yields seven), I highly recommend these.  I made the dough the night before, we rolled it, baked it, and drizzled icing over it until it swam- as per instructions; and they came out perfectly.  She has a variation on it for Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls that has Granny Smith apples for the interior filling, but I have to say that the one that I am most excited about trying is one my sister forwarded to me; Blueberry Cinnamon Rolls .  Of course, Jeff sampled the originals and could not comprehend why I thought they were too sweet. 

a little flour was had by all

Sara got to smear the butter into the dough

We also ate- um, ..... decorated, Red Velvet Mini-Cupcakes, recipe by the girls great-grandmother.  Notice the smear of melted butter on the side of Sara's head from the cinnamon rolls.

What cupcake?  Aren't they bite size?

"Yummy, my tummy's happy, Mom!"

The elusive Christmas picture

Matching pajamas, check!

 everyone look at the camera!

 you stay here

 no, no,no, don't eat the ornament

Oh, wait........, no flash would be better, why didn't I think of this sooner?

Sara, please smile! 

 Here...

 Better?

 I remember reading something about a continuous button on my camera, it's supposed to guarantee at least one good picture...

 oh, yeah, now we're cranky and blurry...

 Yippee...



Book Review

"Running Scared: fear, worry, and the God of rest"  by Edward T. Welch

Our church regularly puts quotes from authors, theologians, songwriters, and even church members (watch what you say! ) at the front of the bulletin.  I copied down this author's name and book title from one of these quotes and carried it around with me for months.  Just recently I had to "up my total" to get free shipping (does anyone else do this?) and put this book in my cart. 

Welch is a Christian counselor and writes in such a way that you feel as if you are getting the benefit of being in a room with him one on one.  During my time in counseling I found myself explaining and talking a lot, and my counselor would drop these little puzzle pieces in and the whole world went "click".  Reading this book gives you the benefit of all the puzzle pieces that we each need for life to make sense.  I kept thinking, wouldn't it be great for this guy to counsel me even if only for a few months?  But the great thing is he continually points us to our Great Counselor and opens up the issues which we all face- fear and anxiety.

This book defines fear, and gives the answer to fear; actually the most oft repeated command in Scripture- "Do not be afraid".  Three hundred times God speaks this to us and yet?  here I am reading a book to further define these 4 words.  Welch shows us the way in which we experience fear in money and possessions, people and their judgements, and death, pain, and punishment. He leaves us with a expository on peace- "one of those features of the kingdom that God is pleased to give us". 

My only addendum to this book is that it reads a little "choppy", but again I attribute this to the way in which counselors teach.  When given a piece of information that has turned the world on it's ear, one can't just think, "Hmmmm.... go figure, how did I miss that?" and keep reading.  This new view must be absorbed, perhaps even over a few days or weeks.  Welch has a vast counseling experience and it is tempting for me to read straight through to just hit those epiphanies.  I want to read a book on fear and cross it off my list, as in "conquered that mountain"  where's the next?   Welch says, "Worry and anxiety think that more information will help.", but we have given grace for today, and more grace will be received tomorrow. 

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. "  John 14:27

Introducing...

Madeline Butterfly

 and Raggedy Ann...

Special thanks go to:

 the makers of scotch tape without whom these wings would not be possible,

 and to our thoughtful neighbors for the loan of Raggedy Ann. 

Raggedy Ann was last worn 13 years ago by their baby girl. 

This was the preschool version- no way those wings would make it there. 

Ah,... one sheet of black construction paper and you're off!

Break out the Nancy Drews!

Early morning found us at the Doctor's office for flu shots.  The girls were successfully stuck, tears were shed, and we headed to checkout.  The sweet receptionist, upon seeing Madeline's crocodile tears, asked if she would like a lollipop  (such a fun word, I love to say it...)

Madeline:  "Yes please!"
Receptionist:  "Which flavor would you like?"
Madeline....pausing... making me wonder if she has any idea what flavor is or means....
Madeline: "Mystery!!"
Receptionist : "Mystery?" 
she and I exchange looks of amazement/bewilderment, as Madeline nods

Sweet receptionist dutifully digs among the dumdums and comes up with the mystery flavor to my daughter's absolute delight.  I walk out of there prepared to write a letter to PBS thanking them for all of their children's programming.

A couple errands later, we are in Target, and I turn around only to find my daughter about to eat some popcorn she found laying on a store shelf.  "Put that down!  We don't eat food from the floor! It's dirty!"  wondering why in the world I have to say this.... don't kids know anything?  Haven't I told her this at some point before?  Do I really have to say don't eat popcorn off the floor? 

Oh well,.... maybe she is more of Shaggy from Scooby Doo.  I always liked the Mystery Machine.  We'll work our way up to the Nancy Drews.

To dig, dig, dig....

you may remember "The story of George and Maple" and why our landscaping began it's lopsided journey this spring

Having now sworn off all spring watering... um...planting... forevermore; we knew that we needed to attack the remainder of the front while the price and climate were right, or be doomed to lopsidedness for the rest of our born days (or 6 years). So away! you bushes who overtook all of our windows...

and enter in:

Spring Sonata Hawthorne with plum colored berries..... gorgeous

Dolce Licorice in that same plum happy shade

(thanks to the fabulous landscape architect who helped us at Stanley's.. don't you just love Stanley's???)

and Sky Pencil Holly...

"Little Princess" spiraea japonica

(it's pink, just for girls sake) 

add a little helper who knows a thing or two about trimming... yes, she entered that right of passage where you cut your own hair to horrify your parents.  And then one parent tries to save a few bucks by getting it cut "properly"  by a woman with Rainbow stripe hair, cutting it into what can only be described as 7 year old boy skater chic, and then the repair haircut lops off another 3 inches....Chief was not amused and wants his little girl back.  I think she can still rock a bob but I am deferring to him....

what is it about new landscape that makes the house feel completely brand new?

oh, yeah.........., red clay dirt and the construction remnants that you find as you dig.  The monstrous bushes we replaced were original to our late 80's house and buried underneath them we found about half of our bricks for the backyard retaining wall, and a solid sack of concrete too!

We still need to yank out that last behemoth and plant some sort of tree, but we are now officially

um... exposed.  

Daddy Daughter first football game...

This was the same weekend as the corn maze.  Jeff's sister and family came and stayed with us and we had a ton of fun activites planned.  UT played Buffalo and the halftime show was a Disney spectacular where registered kids ages 5-12 could march with the band at halftime.  But... you had to be there by 8:00 in the morning.  So, here is Madeline heading out for her first UT game bright and early to support the cousins...

(there were lots of tears, she did NOT want to wear orange, Daddy!!)

and here she is cheering....

crazy cute.... we even have a video of it, but after 15 minutes I couldn't get it to upload.  Technology eludes me.

Again, with the corn maze....

Pedal dirt bikes

Blob bouncing

Wait for me....

oh yeah, we'll be back here again next year...

This is definitely on our fall must do list from now on...

The corn maze...

Home, Home on the range

Where the deer and the antelope play

Where seldom is heard, a discouraging word..

(Dad! I can do this!)

Watch..

huh...

and the sky is not cloudy all day-eeee!